State Theatre (Melbourne)

This article is about the theatre in Arts Centre Melbourne. For the former State Theatre (1929), see Forum Theatre.

State Theatre
Map
Address100 St Kilda Road, Southbank
Melbourne
Australia
Coordinates37°49′13″S 144°58′6″E / 37.82028°S 144.96833°E / -37.82028; 144.96833
OwnerVictorian Arts Centre Trust
Capacity2079
Current useLive Theatre, Opera, Ballet, Dance
Construction
OpenedOctober 1984
ArchitectRoy Grounds
Website
www.artscentremelbourne.com.au

The State Theatre opened in 1984 and is part of the Arts Centre Melbourne located by the Yarra River and St Kilda Road.[1] Like the other performance venues within the Arts Centre, the State Theatre is underground.[2] It has over 2,000 seats and its stage is one of the largest in the world.[3]

The State Theatre is typically used as a venue for ballet, opera and musical theatre.

The first performances in the State Theatre were Fiddler on the Roof by Opera Australia in May 1984,[4] and the John Copley production of Verdi's Don Carlos in by the Victoria State Opera in August.[5][6]

Opera Australia and The Australian Ballet each use the State Theatre as their main Melbourne venue. It is also used by The Production Company for short seasons of musical theatre.

Over summer, the State Theatre usually hosts a major musical or large-scale theatre production. Notable summer productions have included The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, My Fair Lady, The King and I, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Hello, Dolly!, H.M.S. Pinafore, Dusty, War Horse, Chicago, The Secret Garden, The Full Monty, Saturday Night Fever, Dream Lover and Evita.

  • Interior
    Interior
  • Lobby
    Lobby

See also

References

  1. ^ "World Theatres Day". Victorian Heritage Register. 14 April 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Curtain up on major upgrades at Arts Centre Melbourne". Aussie Theatre. 28 April 2023. Retrieved 1 October 2023.
  3. ^ Lahey, John (28 October 2020). "From the Archives, 1984: Melbourne launches the Arts Centre theatre complex". The Age. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Theatre centre unveiled". Australian Jewish News. 11 May 1984. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  5. ^ Hince, Kenneth (1984). "The Victoria State Opera". Meanjin. 43 (1): 123–8. ISSN 0025-6293. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  6. ^ "State Opera season". Australian Jewish News. 15 June 1984. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
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